Structure - peatland

The National Monuments Service's description

This site was located in the industrial peatlands of Toar Bog. It was recorded in the 2013 Re-assessment Peatland Survey as a drain face sighting containing E-W orientated brushwood elements, two to three layers deep, overlain by N-S orientated brushwood 0.23m below the field surface (Whitaker 2014).

A single cutting was opened and excavated under licence 14E0296. A fragment of ash was chosen for AMS dating and returned a result of cal. 411–283 BC (UBA 26628). The site was situated in almost completely undecomposed Sphagnum pool peat. It comprised of a hazel brushwood hurdle panel (L2.68m, W0.13-0.8m) that was truncated by the drain edge. It was composed of three NE–SW orientated elm and ash sails, with densely woven rods. A disperse scatter of four hazel and birch brushwood was uncovered in the SW extent of the cutting. This material may not be associated with the hurdle below and may represent later activity.

Compiled by: Jane Whitaker/Femke Vleeshouwer

Date of upload: 28/02/2020

References

Whitaker, J. 2014 Re‐assessment Peatland Survey 2013, Blackwater, Boora, Derrydreenagh, Mountdillon Group of Bogs, County Offaly, Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon. Unpublished report prepared by ADS for Bord na Móna.

Whitaker, J. 2017 Final Excavation Report, Toar, Co. Westmeath (14E0278–14E0296). Unpublished report prepared by IAC Ltd submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.